Automatic sprinkler.



S. M. MARSHALL.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1912.

1,079,016. Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

In 06 nioz ifl/zfhww sic zlenmmwzazz 7%. a ftoznoys.

SMJEZ* WI UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN 'M. MARSHALL, F CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR T0 ROCKWOOD SPRINKLER COMPANY OF MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 18, 1913..

I To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that L'STEPHEN M. MAR- SHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing"at Clinton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Automatic Sprinkler, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic sprinkler.

The principal objects thereof are to provide a construction in which the fusible metal is not attached to the parts by a soldered joint or the like; in which the leverage system can be so arranged that the fusible material shall bear upon the movable bar in such a manner that part of the pressure will be taken ofi it, and when the fusible metal is fused the movable bar shall move away from the fusible metal, thus reduclng the operatin time and instantaneously eliminating al danger of obstruction by the fusible metal; in which the fusible metal will not be subjected to such great strain that it can be distorted out of shape without the agency of heat so that it can withstand the necessary pressure (preferably up to one thousand pounds per square inch) without danger of cold flow; and that danger from failure to operate on account of corrosion is eliminated, and so that the fusible metal is necessarily ejected before the valve operates, thus eliminating the danger of the water cooling the fusible part and restricting the operation; and to provide a construction in which the fusible link can operate easily either on the upright 01' drop type of sprinkler head. In order to accomplish certain pf these results a sprinkler link or member of fusible metal is used which is constantly under compression and is operated thereby, and the invention involves the provision of such a device which shall accomplish all the other objects above mentioned without the employment of a complicated system of leverage which will put too much pressure on the fusible memberor leave it in such position that the water can come into contact with it when it first issues from the nozzle.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to'be had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of an upright sprinkler head constructed in accordance viewat right angles thereto.

The invention is shown as applied to a screw-threaded nozzle 10 having the usual nut 12. On the nozzle is mounted a frame 11 adjustable by screw threads and provided with a fixed deflector 13 and a boss 14. On this nozzle rests a valve or cap 15 opposite the boss. In the form of the invention shown, the leverage system comprises a main lever 16 of general L-shape form but having an upwardly and inwardly turned end 17. The upwardly extending part of this lever is not exactly vertical, but extends inwardly at the top, 'so that a lever 18 applied to its upper end can project beyond and reach a point opposite the center of the valve 15. Thus this'upper end constitutes the fulcrum of the lever 18. The free end of this lever 18 is received by a reverse bend 20 On an intermediate lever 21. This lever is provided with an under arm 22 en aging under the hook end 17 of the L-shape lever, and is provided with a flat arm 23 at its opposite end having a socket in the top for receiving the fusible metal member 24.

This member is shown in the form of a. spherical piece which also engages a socket in the bottom of the lever 18. The frame 11 is adjusted so as to bring the levers under astrain, and it will be obvious from a consideration of the various levers,that the fusiblemetal member 24 is always under ressure, and that the pressure exerted on the outer end of the lever 18 tends to rock the lever 21. upwardly about the hook 17 as a center against the resistance of the fusible metal member. WVhen this fuses it permits this rocking action to take place, and just as soon as an appreciable amount of motion has been secured, the hook end 20 of the lever 21 will have rocked beyond the outer end of thelever 18 and freed the whole thing. Then the fusible metal member, as well as all three lovers, will drop away and allow the valve to open and the water to issue with full force. In this way there is no chance for the water to strike thefusible metal and cool it before it is detached from the levers,- no chance for the fusible metal to prevent instantaneous operation in any way, and on account of the system of leverage, the fusible member is not put. under such pressure as to endanger any cold flow with this invention, and Fig. 2 is a side tit) or any of the other disadvantages above mentioned.

I am aware of the fact that the system of leverage can be changed very materially Without departing from the scope of the in-.

and means engaging the levers for holdingthe fusible member under compression, and for causing the levers to move directly away from the fusible member when released by the melting thereof.

2. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the nozzle, and a valve-retaining device comprising levers, a fusible member, and means movable independently of, and engaging the free ends of, the levers for holding said fusible member under compression and the levers in position until the fusible member fuses, and for then immediately releasing the fusible member and forcing said levers apart.

3. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the .nozzle, and a valve-retaining device comprising a pair of'levers, one engaging the valve and the other the frame, oneof them projecting toward the otherlever and forming a fulcrum between the point at which it is held hythe frame and its'fre'e end, a fusible member, and means engaging the free ends of the-two levers for holding said fusible member under compression and the levers in position until the fusible member fuses, and for then immediately releasing the fusible member and forcing said levers apart.

4. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the nozzle, a valve retaining device comprising a pair of levers, one engaging the valve and projecting toward the other lever and forming a fulcrum for it, between its ends, said other lever being engaged by the frame at a point on one side. of said fulcrum, a fusible member, and means engaging the free ends of the levers for holding the fusible member under compression.

5. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closingthe nozzle, a boss on the frame ar ranged opposite'the valve, and a valve-retaining device between the boss and valve comprising a pair of levers, one engaging the valve and the other theboss, one of them hav ing an end projecting toward the other lever for closing the nozzle, a boss on the frame arranged'oppesite the valve, and a valveretammg device between the boss and valve, compris ng a pair of levers, one engag ng the valve and the other-the boss, one or them projecting toward the other lever and engaging it between the point at which it is held by the sprinkler head and its free end, a fusible member, and means engaging the freeend of the last named lever and the free end of the other lever and said fusible memher for holding said levers in position until the fusible member fuses and for-then immediately releasing the fusible member and said levers, said means comprising-a levei having three arms, one of said arms of hook form engaging the free end of the first nan'ied'lever, another arm on the same end engaging the free end of the other lever, and a third arm engaging the fusible member.

-7. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the nozzle, and a valve-retaining device comprising a pair of levers, one ongaging the valve, and projecting toward the other lever and forming a fulcrum for it between its ends, said other lever being engaged by the frame at a point on one side of said fulcrum, a fusible member, and means engaging the free ends of the levers for holding the fusible member under c0mpression, said means comprising a lever having three arms, two of said arms of hook form engaging the free ends of said levers, and a. third arm projecting in the opposite direction and engaging the fusible member.

8. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the nozzle, and a valve-retaining device between the valvefcomprising a pair oflevers, one engaging the valve and one havingan end projecting toward the other lever and engaging said other lever between the point at which it is held at the frame and its free end, a fusible member, and a third lever engaging the free end ofthe second lever and also engaging the free end of the first lever and the fusible member.

9. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination of a frame having a nozzle, a valve for closing the nozzle, a valve-retaining device comprising a pair of levers,-one engagin g the valve and projecting toward the other lever and forming a fulcrum for it between its ends, said other lever being engaged ver engagin the other two and holding the fusible mem r against one of them.

10. In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a nozzle of a frame adapted to be connected with the nozzle, a ,valve for closing the nozzle, and a valve-retaining device comprising a lever having an arm or strut extending from the valve nearly in alinement therewith, a lever engaged by the frame at a point near but beyond that at which the strut engages the lever a third lever having a long arm engaging the end of the first lever and another arm spaced from the first lever at a point adjacent to the strut, means for holdin the second lever in position, and a in le metal member between the end of the third lever and the adjacent surface of the second lever, where-' by the release of 'said second lever will cause both the other levers to move away from the original position of the fusible member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN M. MARSHALL.

Witnesses:

CHESTER A. COOK, HAROLD AsrmY, 

